The Flames recovered from a 2 goal deficit on the road, but a late Cardiff Devils powerplay marker decided the evening and the Welsh side secured their 2nd 3-2 win over the Flames in 3 nights.

Devils used an 18-6 shot advantage in the opening frame to take a lead through 20 minutes when Mike Hedden scored at 7:05.

In the 2nd, the reigning League champions doubled their advantage near the midway mark through Charles Linglet, but a pair of Flames replies less than 2 minutes apart, Jamie Crooks on the powerplay at 33:50 and Kruise Reddick at 35:12, had the game even at a pair each to start the last period.

Inside the final half of the 3rd, a Flames penalty proved costly when Drew Schiestel converted the powerplay to set Devils back in front; this time 3-2 with about 7 minutes remaining and the travelling Spectrum gang could find no further scoring to avoid the narrow defeat.

“We are obviously very disappointed to have dropped another tight one like that against a top team like Devils,” admitted Paul Dixon.

“When you get back into a game like we did after falling behind by a couple you get a really positive vibe about finishing it off, and then the powerplay goal with 6 or 7 minutes left puts us back in a chasing role against a championship calibre team who know how to hold a lead.”

“The positive part of a busy schedule right now is that we immediately have another chance tomorrow night at Panthers. We had a good game against them on our last visit, and we will go in there with a mind for success.”